Wind Concerns Ontario is a province-wide advocacy organization whose mission is to provide information on the potential impact of industrial-scale wind power generation on the economy, human health, and the natural environment.

IESO tries to justify wind power contracts in CBC interview

CBC Ottawa’s host of the afternoon show All In A Day yesterday interviewed spokesperson Shawn Cronkwright for the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) on the backlash to the recent contract award announcement.

Even better is the IESO answer to the question, is there anything communities can do now? The Renewable Energy Approval “provides communities to make comment,” the IESO’s Cronkwright said.

“But getting people to comment isn’t the same as addressing concerns,” said Neal.

“I understand the concern, but that’s not how the regulatory process works,” said Cronkwright. (Oh, we know, we know.)

Then he said, concerns have resulted in changes to wind power project and even, in some cases, halting of a project.

This is absolutely stunning: the IESO is pointing to the appeals of Renewable Energy Approvals, which are funded by Ontario taxpayers struggling to protect their health and environment from their own government, as proof the system works! No mention of the fact that the appeal process and indeed all the legislation was crafted with input from the wind power lobby so that, in the words of CanWEA lawyer at a hearing on Ostrander Point, “This [a successful appeal] was never supposed to happen.”

I agree. This was unusual for CBC. I stopped watching/listening several years ago because the lies enraged me. I tried as did many others to tell them that they needed to do more thorough research…to no avail.
I listen on occasion just to hear the distortions to the truth on major stories, so that I know what the general public is being told and can figure out how to get through to them with the truth.
I’ve thanked Neal and filled him in on many details of why so many communities are ‘unwilling hosts’.

Excellent response. We were impressed with Mr Neal because in the main, his focus is on entertainment and not “heavy” issues, but he certainly had a grasp of this one, or his producers did. The awareness tide is turning! Note that he mentioned the danger to wildlife several times.

[…] Judging from the track record of what appears to be sham community consultations, central to the government’s program are measures that would encourage opponents of the government’s programs to burn up their time in consultation processes. Here is some more on the government’s power agency explaining how “the regulatory process works“. […]

Great interview by Alan Neal,
I’m thankful that Mr Neal is asking tough questions –
However, it doesn’t appear to matter. People don’t seem to have a choice. if one disagrees with the placement of wind turbines in their neighbourhoods – or are concerned about health or environmental concerns. The only option they have is to move to another neighbourhood. That isn’t right. That’s not how we operate in OUR country.
These wind turbines are not ‘green.’ They are not ‘naturalist’ solutions. And they have been PROVEN to cause more problems than they address.